Can Leadership Be Taught?

 Leadership, an integral component of curriculum of all major schools across the world. There are a lot of definitions for what leadership is, what good leadership is, and what efficient leadership is. But we are not going to define leadership here. We are going to instrospect on the fact that leadership is being offered as a course in the curriculum.

Jay Conger: "Yes [leadership can be taught], but only certain aspects. Let's say that leadership is made up of three different dimensions: skills, perspectives, and dispositions. Many leadership skills can be taught, and to some extent perspectives may be developed and enhanced through education. For example, we can teach how to present ideas more persuasively and communicate more inspirationally. We can also teach aspects of strategic thinking so one's perspective is broadened. At the same time, there is a critical contextual dimension to strategic thinking which is [the] product of immersion in one's field as well as a mental capacity to think more conceptually.[1]

 While most scholars agree leadership can be learnt, there is ambiguity on whether it can be taught, If at all it can be taught, there are opinions on how it must be taught. Over the years there have been multiple studies formulating various ways leadership can be taught to people. There have been studies evaluating the degree of effectiveness of various methods. What is interesting is, the studies are mostly based on examples either from the present or the past and by the time it is converted into an algorithm for mass producing leaders from a school, it risks losing relevance. Nevertheless why is it then that schools and especially B-schools continue teaching leadership development with special emphasis?

One may ask, do we really need leadership in our lives? and I would say yes. We have leadership in our lives we want or not. We all may not be born to be leaders, we all may not be interested in acquiring the skills needed to be a leader, but it is present in our lives. We are led by our political leaders, we are led by our company leaders, we encounter leadership everyday in our personal spheres through our immediate social contacts. B-schools are entitled with the task of creating leaders and managers of the future. 

While leaders go ahead and shape the outcomes of major events in the world, it is equally important to be able to identify a good leader, an efficient leader. And that is something which can be taught. Most leaders do exhibit certain qualities which form the basis of leadership courses. Though the development and incorporation of these abilities into a personality cannot be taught in its entirety, the skill to identify such abilities can. And that is why leadership can be taught but leaders cannot be made. 

References :

[1] Doh, Jonathan. (2003). Can Leadership Be Taught? Perspectives From Management Educators. Academy of Management Learning & Education. 2. 54-67. 10.5465/AMLE.2003.9324025.